Locomotive max speed under load?

NtheBasement Apr 5, 2019

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  1. NtheBasement

    NtheBasement TrainBoard Member

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    I have a question regarding the max speed of diesel engines. On a prototype diesel, is the max speed available under load?

    Reason for the question: I'd like to as much as possible configure my DCC loco's performance to match the prototype. For example in Wiki it says the max on an SD60 is 70mph. I can put my model on the track and use a stop watch to set the max speed in the decoder to match 70 mph, but of course once I add a string of cars the speed at max throttle is much slower than the one I set under no load conditions.
     
  2. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    That depends on the gearing, and what the railroad that owns it considers a proper load.
     
  3. Akirasho

    Akirasho TrainBoard Member

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    Max speed would depend on a myriad of factors! Over the past 10 days, I've watched 2 trains stall (before reaching the curve) on Horseshoe and quite a few survive owing to AC traction as they creeped at a brisk walk pace!!

    Then, I've watched trains haul the proverbial donkey at La Plata!
     
    ddm502001 likes this.
  4. DJ of DJsTrains

    DJ of DJsTrains TrainBoard Member

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    Speed isn't the issue. On our older EMD engines there is a time limit Once we hit the red (1200 amps then its 15 minutes, then 1300 amps is 12 minutes, then 1500 amps is 5 minutes). We can easily burn out a traction motor or even burn the rail from spinning wheels but not moving. The newer units don't have these short time ratings.
     
    ddm502001 and NtheBasement like this.

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